Bahamas health minister Duane Sands said: "Let me say that I believe the number will be staggering. I have never lived through anything like this and I don't want to live through anything like this again."

As many as 13,000 homes may have been destroyed or severely damaged after the nation was pounded by winds up to 185mph and gusts up to 220mph for days earlier this week.

The moment Hurricane Dorian strikes

After leaving the Bahamas, Dorian moved north along the east coast of Florida and then by Thursday it still had dangerous 115mph winds and was scraping the Carolinas with the potential for over a foot (30cm) of rain in some areas by Friday.

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Forecasters have warned of a life-threatening storm surge along the coast. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses in South Carolina were without power and roads were closed by flooding.

The worst-affected area in the Bahamas is the Abaco Islands where there has been widespread devastation, including flooding, with rescue efforts hampered by significant damage to airport landing strips and a harbour, as well as a hospital and shops.

Image:Many homes have been destroyed or severely damaged on Great Abaco island

A British Royal Navy vessel is providing assistance and Jamaica is sending 150 military personnel to help secure Abaco and nearby Grand Bahama, which also took a direct hit, although the impact there was not thought to be as bad.

Almost half the homes on the two stricken islands are thought to have been destroyed or severely damaged, according to estimates.

The Bahamian government has sent hundreds of police and marines there, along with doctors, nurses and other health care workers.

The US Agency for International Development said a flight has landed in the islands with enough relief supplies to help 31,500 people, bringing hygiene kits, water containers and buckets, and plastic sheeting.

Image:Devastation on Great Abaco Island is seen from the air

Image:People walk through the remains of destroyed buildings in Marsh Harbour, Great Abaco Island

On the Abaco Islands, hurricane survivor Ramond King watched as Dorian's powerful winds ripped the roof off his house. Only his bedroom was left intact.

The storm also completely lifted up his neighbour's property.

He said: "This can't be real, this can't be real", as he surveyed the wreckage of his home. "Nothing is here, nothing at all. Everything is gone, just bodies."

He recalled: "We were just packing what we could have packed. And we were running through the hurricane at the same time, we watched the tornado lift my neighbour's house up and bring it back down."